Ryan budget would cut food stamps, Medicaid deeply

WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on Tuesday laid out a tough election-year budget that purports to come into balance by 2024, in large part through steep cuts to Medicaid and food stamps and the full repeal of President Barack Obama's health care law, just as millions begin to see its benefits.

But even with those cuts, Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, is counting on a boost of economic growth to balance the budget, a boost he said will be gained by reducing the deficit. Many economists believe that such dramatic spending cuts would have the opposite effect, slowing the economy and lowering tax receipts.

The budget resolution, which will be formally adopted by Ryan's committee Wednesday, will serve more as a 2014 Republican campaign manifesto than a legislative agenda. Spending levels for this fiscal year and next were fixed into law in a budget plan approved in December.

Senate Democrats do not intend to draft their own budget, and if GOP leaders cannot muster the 217 votes to pass the Ryan plan, it may never come to a House vote. Still, the plan will set the battle lines for the midterm elections.